Calm, Cool and Collected

My dad is the most laid back person that you will ever meet- calm, cool and collected. He hardly ever gets mad, upset, or emotional. While growing up, I can only remember a few times that my dad ever became angry, and 90 percent of those times were at my mom, with the other ten percent directed at my brothers for leaving his tools out. Upset? Twice- when my grandfather died (his dad), and when my youngest brother literally had a whole in his face from a dog bite when he was only five. Excited- hardly ever.

When Matthew and I told my parents last Christmas that I was expecting a baby, my parents reacted in typical form. My mom freaked out (this is her usual self), and my dad just smiled- calm, cool, and collected, in typical dad form. As the months progressed, neither of my parents were excited about a grandchild being on the way- they still have three kids in the house- with the youngest only being 11. I think they thought it would be like having another child of their own. But the minute they laid eyes on Matthan- everything change. The grandparents who didn't want to become grandparents were now a very proud Omi and Pop. Amazing, what a small baby can do.

This past weekend we made the trek home to PA- a surprise visit for everyone, but we especially surprised my dad by stopping in at his work. Dad reacted in typical dad form- calm, cool, and collected. But when all Matthan would do was cry when my dad held him, I was amazed to see a teeny, tiny bit of emotion crack through the typical calm, cool, and collected dad. Nothing dramatic of course, but I didn't miss the hint of sadness pass through my dads eyes as Matthan cried in his arms. The weekend whizzed by and when it as time to say good bye, I watched my dad pause, hold Matthan for a second longer, give him a little extra squeeze, and then slowly hand him over to me. I couldn't help to notice once again, the sadness that crept into his eyes as he tried to remain his typical calm, cool, and collected self. Maybe, just maybe the calm, cool, and collected dad, wont be as a calm, cool, and collected grandfather.